"The short answer is that toothpaste contains a detergent that dissolves fat. And since your taste buds are partly made of fat, they are disrupted whenever you brush your teeth. Before you decide you need to stop brushing your teeth to save your taste buds, know that this disruption is temporary, lasting only a few minutes. Brushing with toothpaste is still important for your health."
"I'm a psychologist, and I've spent more than 40 years researching the science of how people experience taste and flavor. Let's look at the science behind this phenomenon: A bittersweet symphony Thanks to evolution, your brain is wired to make you love the sweet sugars your body and brain need for fuel and hate the bitter poisons than could kill you."
Toothpaste contains detergents that dissolve fats and temporarily disrupt taste by affecting the lipid membranes of taste receptor cells. Taste receptors for sweet and bitter are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) embedded in those lipid membranes. Evolution favors sweet detection for energy and bitter avoidance to warn against toxins, making sweet and bitter receptors vital for survival. Dissolving membrane lipids alters GPCR function and therefore taste perception, producing the unpleasant interaction between toothpaste and orange juice. The disruption lasts only a few minutes. Regular toothbrushing remains important for oral health despite the transient taste effects.
Read at theconversation.com
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